PETER Crouch will rejoin manager Harry Redknapp for the third time in his career after Tottenham signed the striker for a deal thought to be worth around £9 million.

The England forward, who played under Redknapp at Portsmouth and Southampton, successfully completed a medical yesterday after thrashing out a contract with the White Hart Lane club.

Crouch, who opted against signing with Sunderland for a reported £12 million, is believed to have been sold after financial issues rocked the south-coast side.

A statement on Tottenham's website read: “We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with
Portsmouth for the transfer of Peter Crouch to the club, following the
player successfully completing a medical examination and agreeing
personal terms.”

The 28-year-old had travelled up to the north-east and agreed personal terms with the Black Cats but pulled out of the deal amid growing interest from London-based clubs Spurs and Fulham.

Spurs beat off competition from their west London rivals to secure the services of the player, who scored 16 times in all competitions for Pompey last term.

However Redknapp has experienced mixed fortunes with Crouch in his team after their first partnership culminated in Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League.

Yet they went on to win the FA Cup with Pompey in 2008 and Redknapp admitted his desire to sign the player on Sunday following Spurs’ 2-0 Wembley Cup defeat by Celtic.

“He’s different. He holds the ball up. Celtic held the ball up well but we don’t do that well enough,” he said.

“He gives you an option and he’s played for me a few times before. He’s always done a job and he’s great on set-plays at both ends.”

Crouch’s departure from Fratton Park makes him the latest high-profile player to leave the south-coast club in the past 12 months with Lassana Diarra, Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson having all left on big-figure deals.

Spurs look set to recoup the cash spent on Crouch however, if Sunderland complete the signing of striker Darren Bent.

A statement from Portsmouth last night admitted Crouch’s sale had been agreed upon to help the club meet their debt repayment obligations.

It read: “We are sorry to see Peter go both as a player and a person and would like to thank him for playing a key role in keeping the club in the Premier League last season.

“His sale was necessitated by the club’s commitment to repay scheduled debts while we are in the transitional period of completing the takeover.

“We will now be looking to add fresh faces to the first-team squad as soon as possible.”